Adam Scott Nelson

Adam Scott Nelson after nine years lost his battle with cancer January 31st, 2025, at his home. Funeral services for Adam Scott Nelson, age 44, of Lake Preston, SD, will be 11:00 AM Friday, February 7, 2025, at Lake Whitewood Church rural Arlington.
Visitation will be Thursday, February 6, 2025, at Johnson-Henry Funeral Chapel in Lake Preston from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Interment will be in the Lake Whitewood Cemetery.
Adam was born in Lake Preston, SD, January 19, 1981, to parents Jerome Nelson and Connie Bickett Tharp. Being born with a cyst on his brain he was transferred to a Sioux Falls hospital where he had brain surgery at two days old followed by many more surgeries in the oncoming years. When time to start school, he lived at South Dakota Children's home from 1984 to 1986 and was able to come home every weekend.
He had gained so much that he started grade school in Oldham, SD. Followed by Sturgis Rapid Valley elementary and graduated from high school 2000 in Phoenix. Adam made huge strides after high school working at Macayos a Mexican restaurant and Target while living in Phoenix with his mom and stepdad.
He spent summers and long holiday breaks in South Dakota with his dad. He lived many others places but his heart was always in South Dakota. When he moved to South Dakota full time in 2014 to live with his dad and stepmom he became the 'Farm Manager' being always interested in what was going on and helped his dad with the daily chores on the farm from being the gopher to watching the gates, running errands for his stepmom and giving rides from field to field for his dad and step brother. He loved to tinker in the shop and paint things. With help he made stools from cream cans and picked up things at rummage sales that he could paint and give as gifts. Another love was going to rummage sales, auction sales and flea markets where he would always bargain for a better price. Bowling was another passion.
He looked forward to the Tuesday evening men's league and also state tournaments. In the fall he sold sweet corn to make extra money for this tournament. He often told us he was a pro bowler. The guys let him fit in and were good to him.
Already having a Chevette, he had learned how to drive and was able to earn a driver's license and acquired a more reliable vehicle but still loved his first car with the red horn on top. One of his sayings was: Corvettes are a dime a dozen but there are not many Chevettes. Always hoping to win the lottery so he could restore his personal Vette.
Always full of pranks many people were gifted with spiders, snakes, and mice. He was so proud to be an uncle and having another generation to pick on. As he would say, they need to learn from someone as he was the Prankster. In addition to being an uncle he loved spending time with his siblings, step siblings and cousins. He made friends everywhere he went.
He is survived by his dad and stepmom, Jerome and Bonnie Nelson, of Lake Preston; mom and stepdad, Connie and Gerald Tharp, of Phoenix; sister, Laura Yakamna and husband Padej, of Fort Mill, SC; step siblings, Todd and Renae Christensen, of Baltic, SD; Kurt and Mandi Christensen, of Badger, SD; and Kjersten and Andrew Nelson, of Lake Preston, SD; sister-in-law, Shauna Meyer Nelson, of Montana; Jillian Jones, of Phoenix; grandmother, Phyllis Nelson; nieces and nephews: Alyssa and Ava Yakamna, Thomas and Evan Christensen, Meredith, Henry, Mara and Kallan Christensen, Ryan and Marie Verhey and Ivan Nelson, Phoebe and Rocko Jones.
He will be greeted by his brother, Aaron Nelson; grandparents, Neil Nelson; Bud and Linda Bickett; Lois and Don Jorenby, and Mary and Lexie Tharp.
Can you imagine the reunion Adam had with Aaron!
Thank you to the Community for being good and patient with him. Family requests causal clothes as Adam would have liked it.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Arlington.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Adam Scott Nelson, please visit our floral store.